Certifications & Hiring Requirements

Learn more about our Certifications and Hiring Requirements

We’re so excited that you are interested in joining the Uplift family. Uplift strives to hire the most qualified applicant for every position. All teachers must be properly certified for the teaching positions to ensure Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Uplift requirements are met. Please read this page thoroughly and use it to familiarize yourself with the Certification requirements for employment as a teacher at an Uplift school.

Highly Qualified

To fulfill the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), all teachers seeking employment at Uplift must be Highly Qualified (HQ) for the teaching position they are seeking. Your HQ status indicates your subject matter competency for the subject that you are teaching. There are different ways to become HQ based upon the grade level and subject you are teaching.

• For Primary Teachers, you must show subject matter competency by taking and passing the appropriate TExES Content Exam that aligns to what you will be teaching. This is the only way to become HQ for Primary grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.
• For Secondary Teachers, you must show subject matter competency either through your college transcript or by passing the appropriate TExES Content Exam that aligns to what you will be teaching.

Certification

As a condition of employment with Uplift Education, all instructional candidates who are not currently certified are required to apply and enroll in the Teach Us Certification Program (or an Uplift-approved alternative).

Candidates are expected to have applied to the Teach Us Certification Program at the time of offer acceptance or immediately upon receiving an offer.

Enrollment must be completed within the designated onboarding timeline. Failure to apply, enroll, or make satisfactory progress toward certification may result in delays in onboarding or impact employment eligibility.

This requirement aligns with Uplift’s expectation that all instructional staff meet state certification standards or are actively progressing toward certification.

What are the benefits of the Teach Us program?

• Teach Us is a fast-paced 6-9 month certification program designed to get candidates classroom-ready quickly.
• The total cost is $4,800, with flexible payment plan options starting as low as $99/month until candidates obtain their Statement of Eligibility (SOE).
• Once the SOE is secured, the remaining balance is adjusted to ensure full payment is completed by the end of the academic school year.

Minimum Teacher Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A./ B.S.) from an accredited college or university required. Master’s Degree is preferred but not required.
• Must have a valid Texas Teacher Certification or be enrolled in a Texas alternative certification program.
• Teaching staff must be able to demonstrate that they are certified and/or can demonstrate subject competency as defined by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Division	Minimum Special Education Teacher Requirements
Primary	Special Education EC-12
	ESL Supplemental
	Generalist/Core Subjects EC-6
Middle	Special Education EC-12
	ESL Supplemental
	Generalist/Core Subjects 4-8
High	Special Education EC-12
	ESL Supplemental
	9-12 Core Subject Certification (English, Math, Science, or Humanities)

Minimum Teacher Assistant Requirements

• Must have a minimum of 48 college credit hours or hold an Educational Aide certificate.
• If you do not have college credit hours or an Educational Aide certificate, you will need to take the teacher assistant assessment, which will be scheduled through Talent Management.

More Information

Please see the resources below for more information about certification and HQ requirements for employment.
For information about Texas Certification or any other certification information, please visit: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification
Not Certified in Any State
Currently Enrolled in Alternative Certification Program
Out-of-State Certified
Texas Certified